Prepare for tunes (and possibly some tears) as the acclaimed “Songs & Stories” segment of The Kelly Clarkson Show takes on a life of its own in this four-episode primetime series.
This series “allows Kelly to do what she does best — dive deep into the music and combine her musical expertise with her genuine curiosity,” says Songs & Stories With Kelly Clarksonexecutive producer Alex Duda.
Even better, Clarkson not only discusses the songs but also performs acoustic versions of them with the original artists. “The Songs & Stories segment has always been a favorite of both our staff and our viewers,” explains Duda. “In fact, we’ve featured it in 3 of our 6 season premieres (Chris Martin, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert).”
The premiere features a conversation with and music by the Jonas Brothers, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band. “They talk through their influences, and we get to hear Kelly and the guys harmonize through some of them — no spoilers! But hint: Some of their influences are Bee Gees, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Carol King, which went on to shape their sound and connection,” teases Duda, who also hints at a memorable moment when Clarkson and the Jonas Brothers perform the hit “Year 3,000.”
ABC/Jose Alvarado
Future episodes showcase Clarkson connecting with musical superstars Gloria Estefan (August 26), Teddy Swims (September 2), and Lizzo (September 9).
“We wanted to shine a light on four very different kinds of artists with four very different stories,” explains Duda. “We love the family dynamic of Jonas Bros; Teddy Swims’ unconventional rise from You Tube covers to having the longest running Hot 100 Hit in the history of the Billboard List; the iconic Gloria Estefan, celebrating her 50th year in music with the release of a Spanish language album; and the Grammy and Emmy-winning groundbreaker, Lizzo, who did indeed bring along ‘Sasha Flute.’”
Even better: Viewers will get to hear Clarkson harmonizing with Estefan on one of her songs in Spanish. Is there anything she can’t do?
Songs & Stories With Kelly Clarkson, Series Premiere, Tuesday, August 19, 10/9c, NBC